Dual Gas-Lubricated Seals Provide Solutions

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Dual gas-lubricated seals use a pressurized, nitrogen gas barrier—usually at a higher pressure than the pumped fluid—combined with lift features to separate the seal faces to a small, controlled gap. Lift features—such as spiral grooves, waves, T-slots and hydropad grooves—create aerodynamic lift with the barrier gas pressure and shaft rotation, which generate a high film stiffness. This film keeps the seal faces separated, even during challenging conditions, such as vibration and cavitation.

This combination of features and design elements provides advantages not offered by other solutions. “Sealing Sense” articles in Pumps & Systems, November and December 2009, presented an overview of the basic principles of design and application of these seals. This “Sealing Sense” discusses the advantages that these unique seal designs offer when compared to other sealing solutions.

Energy Efficiency, Negligible Heat Generation

The small gap generated by the combination of lift features and pressurized gas means that dual gas-lubricated seals can operate without any contact or wear. The only friction comes from the shearing of the pressurized gas, which at normal pump speeds can be as low as 6 watts (0.008 horsepower). A single liquid-lubricated seal operating at similar conditions may generate up to 300 watts (0.4 horsepower) of friction. The low heat generation of dual gas-lubricated seals typically causes less than 2 degrees of temperature increase at the seal faces, eliminating the need for external cooling. Another advantage is that, because heat generation is so low, virtually no thermal distortion of the seal faces occurs, which must be carefully considered when designing liquid-lubricated seals.

Cooling water used to remove excess heat from seals can consume large amounts of energy. In one example of a dual liquid-lubricated seal in a high-temperature oil application, cooling is required from an American Petroleum Institute (API) Plan 21 and API Plan 53 to maintain acceptable seal temperatures. Total energy consumption for this system—in this example, more than 40 kilowatts (53 horsepower) of thermal energy—can exceed the power consumption of the pump’s driver. Dual gas-lubricated seals designed to tolerate these high temperatures do not require cooling, resulting in significant energy savings by eliminating thermal energy losses.

When compared to sealless magnetic drive pumps, dual gas-lubricated seals also provide an energy efficiency advantage. Sealless pumps with metallic containment shells can experience significant efficiency loss because of eddy current generation in the shell.

Process Fluid Temperature Control

In addition to low energy consumption, the seal’s low heat generation offers an advantage in applications that are sensitive to temperature changes. Some process fluids must be carefully controlled to a narrow range of temperatures to control a chemical reaction, limit flashing or vaporization, or to maintain the ideal fluid properties for pumping.

Figure 2. 3-D microscope topography of a wavy face pattern

For example, a chemical industry company in Deer Park, Texas, used dual gas-lubricated seals on a butadiene application. This fluid must be controlled to a narrow window of 1.7 to 4.4 C (35 to 40 F) to prevent it from polymerizing into a sticky rubber. Localized temperatures caused by liquid-lubricated seals would result in gumming up the seal chamber and quick failure. Dual gas-lubricated seals have achieved good reliability, with up to a 53-month average mean time between failure in this temperature-sensitive application.

Unaffected by Dry Running

Single liquid-lubricated seals rely on the pumped fluid for friction reduction and heat removal at the seal faces. Cavitation, dry running and other poor lubrication conditions can significantly shorten seal life. Dual gas-lubricated seals are designed to run dry and do not rely on the pumped fluid for lubrication or heat removal. If the pump runs dry, the seal will not be affected.

Tank unloading often causes problems for single liquid- lubricated seal installations. Pumps in these applications usually operate for several minutes after the tank empties to strip the tank of as much of the product as possible. Dual gas-lubricated seals offer a good alternative if a reliable pressurized source of gas is available at the unloading station. They require no regular maintenance to refill a barrier fluid tank.

Dry running tolerance is another advantage of the dual gas-lubricated seal compared to many sealless magnetic drive pump designs. These pumps often rely on ceramic journal bearings that require lubrication and will fail if the pump runs dry.

No Emissions, No Contamination

Pressurized dual seals, whether liquid lubricated or gas lubricated, will only leak their respective barrier fluids to atmosphere. This can be critical in situations in which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are pumped and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. While it is possible to obtain low emissions of 500 parts per million (ppm) or less with single seals, the application must be carefully monitored and have well-controlled equipment operation to achieve this. Dual pressurized seals can achieve zero emissions consistently, even under difficult operating conditions.